US 8,548,381 B2
`(10) Patent No.:
`a2) United States Patent
`Dua
`(45) Date of Patent:
`*Oct. 1, 2013
`
`
`US008548381B2
`
`(54) WIRELESS AUDIO DEVICE AND WIRELESS
`MEDIA PLAYER TO COMMUNICATE AND
`PLAYBACK AUDIO, AND METHOD OF
`OPERATION
`
`(76)
`Inventor: Robin Dua, San Francisco, CA (US)
`(*) Notice:
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis
`.
`.
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`.
`.
`.
`as patent is subject to a terminal dis-
`
`.
`
`.
`
`claimer.
`
`6,792,449 B2
`Oooss BI
`6353304 Bl
`7,112,138 B2*
`7,565,108 B2*
`8,225,014 B2*
`2004/0055446 Al
`stealre049 ‘i
`2004/0224638 Al
`2005/0076364 Al
`2005/0076388 Al
`2005/0097595 AL*
`
`9/2004 Colville et al.
`aooos nesetal.
`2/2005 Kolls erg
`9/2006 Hedrick et al. cic 463/29
`
`.. 455/412
`7/2009 Kotolaetal.
`..
`7/2012 Kuhl woes 710/52
`3/2004 Robbin et al.
`Sond Pulla al 1
`otola et al.
`11/2004 Fadell etal.
`4/2005 Dukeset al.
`4/2005 Morseet al.
`5/2005 Lipsanenet al.cccceee. 725/25
`
`2005/0273553 A1* 12/2005 Boucard wesc TAL/112
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 13/556,429
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Jul. 24, 2012
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`US 2013/0045681 Al
`Feb. 21, 2013
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`(63) Continuation of application No. 11/127,979,filedon
`May 12, 2005, now Pat. No. 8,244,179.
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`HO4B 7/00
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`USPC.
`....... 455/41.2; 455/41.3; 455/2.01; 455/3.06;
`455/556.1; 455/552.1: 455/557: 340/10.51:
`340/572. 1: 348/838: 709/248: 709/213: 370/311:
`~
`°
`°
`° 3701338,
`(58) Field of Classification Search
`USPC
`348/838: 340/572.1: 705/14: 455/413
`455/2.01. 3.06. 556.1. 552.1. 557. 41.2: 463/25
`463‘I 7. 250/201.5: 206/308.1: 3.60/53.47.
`369/44.28
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`6,782,412 B2
`6,788,676 B2
`
`8/2004 Brophyetal.
`9/2004 Partanen etal.
`
`Primary Examiner — Marceau Milord
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — Stanzione & Kim, LLP
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`—_A wireless media player anda related system and methodol-
`ogy are disclosed. One aspect of the wireless media player
`system pertains to a virtual connector system, apparatus, and
`method for the automatic establishment of wireless connec-
`tivity with other electronic devices. In one embodiment, the
`media player device employs the use of integrated Radio
`Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to exchange
`communication settings, media capability, and other param-
`eters with an external device that also has integrated RFID
`technology. The automatic exchange of settings and other
`information via a proximity-based RFID data exchange
`allows a media player to quickly establish a secure commu-
`nication link with another device via a commonly supported
`wireless protocol such as Ultra Wideband (UWB)or Blue-
`tooth. Another aspect ofthe media player system pertains to a
`method ofusing the captured media capability ofthe connect-
`ing device to customize certain menu options and software
`parameters in the media player.
`
`17 Claims, 19 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`PRESS RFIDACTIVATION BUTTON ON
`WIRELESS DEVICE
` BRING RFID"HOTSPOT"ON DEVICEIN PROXIMITY
`RFID READER|S TEMPORARILYACTIVATED}
`AND RFID TAG BECOMESINOPERABLE.
`
`TO“HOTSPOT" ON ANOTHERWIRELESS DEVICE
` COMMUNICATIONAND OTHERSETTINGS
`
`TOWHICH CONNECTIVITYIS DESIRED
`EXCHANGEDVIARFID. CAPABILITESASSESSED.
`
`RFID TAG-READER MODULE RETURNS
`TONORMALSTATE
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`WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SESSION
`ESTABLISHED BETWEENDEVICES
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`‘TRANSMIT MEDIAWIRELESSLY10TARGET DEVICE.
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 1, 2013
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`Sheet 1 of 19
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`US 8,548,381 B2
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`U.S. Patent
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`Oct. 1, 2013
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`Sheet 2 of 19
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`Oct. 1, 2013
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 1, 2013
`
`Sheet 8 of 19
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`US 8,548,381 B2
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`

`U.S. Patent
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`Oct. 1, 2013
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`Sheet 9 of 19
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`US
`
`8,548,381 B2
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`

`U.S. Patent
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`Oct. 1, 2013
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`Sheet 10 of 19
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`US 8,548,381 B2
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`530SS
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`START
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`Oct. 1, 2013
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`Oct. 1, 2013
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`Sheet 12 of 19
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`U.S. Patent
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`Oct. 1, 2013
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`Sheet 14 of 19
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`US 8,548,381 B2
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`U.S. Patent
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`Oct. 1, 2013
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`Sheet 15 of 19
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`US 8,548,381 B2
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`U.S. Patent
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`Oct. 1, 2013
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`Sheet 16 of 19
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`US 8,548,381 B2
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`U.S. Patent
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`Oct. 1, 2013
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`Sheet 17 of 19
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`US 8,548,381 B2
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`Oct. 1, 2013
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`Sheet 18 of 19
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`US 8,548,381 B2
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`U.S. Patent
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`Oct. 1, 2013
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`Sheet 19 of 19
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`US 8,548,381 B2
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`US 8,548,381 B2
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`1
`WIRELESS AUDIO DEVICE AND WIRELESS
`MEDIA PLAYER TO COMMUNICATE AND
`
`PLAYBACK AUDIO, AND METHOD OF
`OPERATION
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`Thepresent invention is a continuation of and claims ben-
`efit ofpriority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/127,979,
`filed on May 12, 2005, now allowed,the entire disclosure of
`whichis hereby incorporated by reference herein.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`Thepresent invention relates generally to wireless media
`players and related systems. Moreparticularly, the present
`invention relates to a wireless media system andplayer hav-
`ing improved features for establishing wireless connectivity
`with variouselectronic devices.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`The ever increasing speed and the reducedsize of elec-
`tronic components has contributed to the proliferation of
`consumerelectronic devices capable of processing digital
`media such as audio, video, images, animation, presentations,
`and other content. Handheld media players include for
`example, cellular phones, personaldigital assistants (PDAs),
`MP3players, video players, game players, cameras, radios,
`televisions, CD/DVD players, Personal Video Recorders
`(PVRs), etc. Many existing media players are able to store
`large amounts of digital content, wirelessly connect to the
`Internet and exchange data over short ranges with other elec-
`tronic devices.
`
`It is often desirable to interact on a frequent basis with
`multiple electronic devices that contain different types of
`digital media. For example, users might have digital music
`stored in a pocket-size MP3 player, photos or video stored in
`a cellular phone, presentations stored in a personal digital
`assistant (PDA), or a variety of other digital media and appli-
`cations stored on other portable electronic devices. The stan-
`dardizationoffile formats for a variety ofmedia types and the
`resulting availability of processing support for these media
`types has allowedusers to transfer and share digital informa-
`tion between devices morereadily.
`A problem remains in that getting personal electronic
`devices to communicate with one another in orderto transfer
`or access information is typically a cumbersome and time-
`consuming process. In somecases, a direct physical connec-
`tion must be established between two devices prior to and
`during data transfer or access using, for example, a docking
`station interface, FireWire connector, Universal Serial Bus
`(USB) connector, or some type of cable. All of the above
`connectivity methods imposedifficulties in that the devices
`must be directly attached or tethered to one another while
`communicating.
`In other instances, connectivity between devices can be
`established using infra-red capability integrated into the
`devices. A major short-range infra-red (IR) communications
`network protocol, defined by the Infra-red Device Associa-
`tion (IrDA), is known as the IrDA standard. Infra-red tech-
`nology restricts mobility by requiring the devices to be in
`direct line-of-sight to each other’s infra-red port.
`Wireless connectivity offers the most flexible means by
`which to connect devices and exchange information. Short-
`range wireless capability using standards such as Bluetooth,
`
`2
`802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, Ultra-Wideband (UWB), and
`others are presently being integrated into media player
`devices. Wireless technology obviates the need for peripher-
`als such as docking stations, cables, and adapters and pro-
`vides for mobility within a certain range.
`However, one issue with wireless device-to-device connec-
`tivity is that some form of user configuration is typically
`required. For example, communicationsettings, softwareset-
`tings, security settings, and other information is typically
`required to be exchanged between and among the devices
`which are to communicate. In most cases, user configuration
`in this manner makes data exchange between the media
`devices insecure and time consuming. Known over-the-air
`techniques for configuration between two devices have also
`proven to be generally insecure.
`As devices such as cellular phones, PDAs, MP3 players,
`and cameras and other handheld devices capable of storing
`and playing media become moreprevalent and offer more and
`morefeatures, it is increasingly desirable to provide intercon-
`nection between these devices for convenience and to take
`advantage of the rich feature sets available. Accordingly,
`there is a needin the art for an improved method, apparatus,
`and system for wirelessly connecting these devices and dis-
`covering each others’ communication, media processing, and
`other capabilities. There is a further need for a solution that
`allows for the automatic establishment of a secure wireless
`
`connection between a source device and a target device and
`the automatic transmission of certain media assets to the
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`target device. There is also a need for a solution that allows
`wireless media player devices to connect with and transmit
`media assets to other devices via the Internet.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to
`provide a system and methodology which improves upon
`prior art systems and methodologies andtheir related draw-
`backs as described above.
`
`It is another object of the present invention to provide an
`efficient, user-friendly and automated methodology by which
`two or more devices can establish wireless communication
`and make each other aware of device capabilities, available
`media types, communication protocols and other information
`specific to the devices and the content stored thereon.
`It is another object of the present invention to use Radio
`Frequency Identification (RFID) to automatically setup and
`establish a wireless connection between at least one source
`
`device and onetarget device.
`invention are
`These and other objects of the present
`obtained through the use of a novel wireless media player
`system and related methodology. The wireless media system
`of the present invention includes a handheld media player
`(source device) capable of transmitting and receiving infor-
`mation over a wireless connection with other electronic
`
`the media
`devices (target devices). In one embodiment,
`player is able to simultaneously communicate with multiple
`target devices in close proximity using one or more supported
`short-range wireless protocols. In another embodiment, the
`media player may connect with one or more target devices
`through the Internet or another network, by connecting to a
`cellular network or a local wireless access point.
`The media player of the present
`invention preferably
`includes integrated Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)
`technology. More specifically, the media player includes an
`RFID Tag-Reader Module that is capable of functioning as
`both an RFID tag and an RFID reader. According to a pre-
`ferred embodiment, the RFID Tag-Reader Module allows
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`US 8,548,381 B2
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`3
`interoperability with all RF 13.56 MHz readers and tags
`compatible with existing international standards, including
`ISO 14443 A/B, ISO 15693, FeliCa™, and NFC.
`The RFID Tag-Reader Module also preferably includes an
`RFID Tag-Reader Controller that manages all communica-
`tion between the media player’s CPU and the RFID Tag-
`Reader Module’s functional components. In addition to the
`hardware interface between the media player’s CPU and the
`RFID Tag-Reader Controller, an application program inter-
`face (API) layer supports communication between applica-
`tions operating on the terminal and the RFID module. An
`RFID activation button maybe integrated in the media player.
`This activation button is capable of activating the reader func-
`tionality of the RFID Tag-Reader Module whenpressed.
`Theinventionrelates, in another embodiment, to a method
`ofusing RFID to capture the media processing capability and
`other parameters of a target device in order to customize
`certain menu options and software settings in the media
`player. The method includes for example, recognizing the
`media processing capability of the target device, and custom-
`izing the user interface on the media player so that it only
`displays media categoriesandfiles that could be processed by
`the target device if transmitted.
`Theinventionrelates, in another embodiment, to a method
`of using the RFID connector system to quickly establish a
`wireless communication link with a target device and auto-
`matically transmitting certain media assets to it once connec-
`tivity has been established. The method includes, in one
`embodiment, automatically transmitting media which is
`being viewed/played on the media player at the time of an
`RFID exchange with the target device.
`Theinventionrelates, in another embodiment, to a method
`oftransmitting media to a target device for viewingor listen-
`ing, and using controls on the media player, or software
`operating therein,to alter the viewing/listening experience on
`the target device. The method includes, for example, trans-
`mitting audio or video from the media player to the target
`device, and using,
`the “play”, “pause”, “fast forward”,
`“rewind”, “stop”, “skip back”, and “skip forward”keys on the
`mediaplayerto adjust the viewing/listening experience ofthe
`media being transmitted and presented onthe target device.
`Theinventionrelates, in another embodiment, to a method
`of creating, storing, and accessing profiles for target devices
`that have previously exchanged communication settings,
`media processing capabilities, and other information with the
`media player. Profiles can be used to establish automatic
`connectivity between the media player and one or moretarget
`devices that are in proximity via a commonshort-range wire-
`less communication protocol. The method includes, receiv-
`ing device information, communication settings, media pro-
`cessing capabilities, and other parameters associated with the
`target device and using the information to establish a profile
`for the target device on the media player. The device profile
`can be enabled at the user’s option to automatically detect the
`target device when within a certain proximity to the media
`player. At that point wireless connectivity between devices
`can be automatically established. Alternatively, the profile
`couldalso be used to manually establish wireless connectivity
`with a target device at the user’s discretion.
`Theinventionrelates, in another embodiment, to a method
`of selecting one or more Internet-connected target devices for
`the delivery of certain media assets. The method includes,
`selecting a media source, selecting specific media assets,
`selecting an address for the target device, resolving the
`address to an Internet routable address, and establishing a
`peer-to-peer communication session with the target device
`over the Internet.
`
`4
`These and other advantages and features of the present
`invention are described herein with specificity so as to make
`the present invention understandable to one of ordinary skill
`in the art.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The presentinventionis illustrated by way of example, and
`not by way oflimitation, in the figures of the accompanying
`drawings and in whichlike reference numerals refer to similar
`elements and in which:
`FIG.1 is a functional representation of media playerter-
`minal interfacing with a wireless headphone unit, in accor-
`dance with one embodimentofthe present invention.
`FIG.2Ais a front-side perspective view of a media player
`terminal, in accordance with one embodimentof the present
`invention.
`
`FIG. 2B is a representation of the keypad interface of a
`media player terminal, in accordance with another embodi-
`mentof the present invention.
`FIG.2C is a front-side perspective view of a media player
`terminal with an alpha-numeric keypad, in accordance with
`one embodimentof the present invention.
`FIG.3A is a left-side perspective view of a media player
`terminal, in accordance with one embodimentof the present
`invention.
`
`FIG.3B is a back-side perspective view of a media player
`terminal, in accordance with one embodimentof the present
`invention.
`FIG. 3C is a top-side perspective view of a media player
`terminal, in accordance with one embodimentof the present
`invention.
`FIG. 3D is a bottom-side perspective view of a media
`player terminal, in accordance with one embodimentof the
`present invention.
`FIG. 4A depicts a functional diagram illustrating one
`embodiment of a RFID tag-reader module according to the
`invention.
`
`FIG.4B depicts a functional diagram illustrating an alter-
`native embodiment ofa RFID tag-reader module according to
`the invention.
`FIG. 5 is a functional diagram of a media player terminal
`interfacing with a wireless headphone unit, in accordance
`with one embodimentof the present invention.
`FIG.6 is a functional diagram of two media player termi-
`nals wirelessly interfacing with one another andtheir respec-
`tive headphoneunits, in accordance with one embodimentof
`the present invention.
`FIG.7 is a table depicting the message components and
`example content of a RFID message exchange between two
`electronic devices, in accordance with one embodimentofthe
`present invention.
`FIG. 8A is a flow diagram of a wireless transmission
`method using RFID setup, in accordance with one embodi-
`mentof the present invention.
`FIG.8Bis a flow diagram ofan alternative wireless trans-
`mission method using RFID setup, according to the inven-
`tion.
`FIG.9 is a flow diagram ofa wireless transmission method
`via a wireless network and the Internet, in accordance with
`one embodimentof the present invention.
`FIG. 10 is a functional diagram of a media player terminal
`capturing a video feed from an external video recording
`device, and transmitting the same video content via a cellular
`network and the Internet to another media player terminal,
`which further transmits the content to a television, in accor-
`dance with one embodimentofthe present invention.
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`US 8,548,381 B2
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`5
`FIG.11 is a functional diagram of a media player terminal
`with an embedded video recorder, filming a city scene, and
`transmitting the video content via a cellular network and the
`Internet to two separate media player terminals connected to
`different mobile operator networks, in accordance with one
`embodimentof the present invention.
`FIG. 12 is an illustration of an exemplary user interface
`screen depicting device categories, in accordance with one
`embodimentof the present invention.
`FIG. 13 is an illustration of an exemplary user interface
`screen depicting one specific device profile category in accor-
`dance with one embodimentofthe present invention.
`FIG. 14 is an illustration of an exemplary user interface
`screen depicting messaging that indicates that the media
`player terminalis wirelessly connecting to a target device, in
`accordance with one embodimentofthe present invention.
`FIG. 15 is an illustration of an exemplary user interface
`screen depicting options for Media Sources that can be
`selected in order to select specific media assets for transmis-
`sion to a target device, in accordance with one embodimentof
`the present invention.
`FIG. 16 is an illustration of an exemplary user interface
`screen depicting Live Contentoptions that can be selected for
`transmission to a target device,
`in accordance with one
`embodimentof the present invention.
`FIG. 17 is an illustration of an exemplary user interface
`screen depicting Internet Content options from which media
`assets can be selected for transmission to a target device, in
`accordance with one embodimentofthe present invention.
`FIG. 18 is an illustration of an exemplary user interface
`screen depicting Stored Content options from which media
`assets can be selected for transmission to a target device, in
`accordance with one embodimentofthe present invention.
`FIG. 19 is an illustration of an exemplary user interface
`screen depicting Video Files that can be selected for trans-
`mission to a target device, in accordance with one embodi-
`mentof the present invention.
`FIG. 20 a front-side perspective view of a media player
`terminal with an exemplary user interface screen depicting a
`video file being transmitted to a target device, in accordance
`with one embodimentof the present invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention for a media player system, appara-
`tus, and method is now described in specific terms sufficient
`to teach one of skill in the practice the invention herein. In the
`description that follows, numerous specific details are set
`forth by way of example for the purposes of explanation and
`in furtherance of teaching oneofskill in the art to practice the
`invention.It will, however, be understoodthat the invention is
`not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and dis-
`cussed herein and that the invention can be practiced without
`such specific details and/or substitutes therefor. The present
`invention is limited only by the appended claims and may
`includevarious other embodiments whichare notparticularly
`described herein but which remain within the scope andspirit
`of the present invention.
`One important feature of the present inventionis the use of
`RFID technology to establish wireless communication
`between a diverse set ofdevices. The methods by which RFID
`tags and RFID readers interact and communicate are well
`established and documented. Therising use of RFID technol-
`ogy, especially 13.56 MHz technology, for electronic pay-
`ments and other applications has promoted standardization
`efforts to establish a broadly applicable communications
`framework between RFID tags and RFID readers.
`
`6
`Onesuch standard wasestablished by European Computer
`Manufacturers Association (ECMA)International based in
`Geneva, Switzerland, and is known as the Near Field Com-
`munication standard (ECMA-340). The Standard defines
`communication modes for Near Field Communication Inter-
`
`face and Protocol (NFCIP-1) for use with RFID tags and
`readers. It also defines both the Active and the Passive com-
`munication modes of Near Field Communication Interface
`and Protocol (NFCIP-1) to realize a communication network
`using Near Field Communication devices for networked
`products and also for consumer equipment.
`This Standardspecifies, in particular, modulation schemes,
`codings, transfer speeds, and frame format of the RF inter-
`face, as well as initialization schemesand conditions required
`for data collision control during initialization. Furthermore,
`this Standard defines a transport protocol including protocol
`activation and data exchange methods. NFC is also compat-
`ible with the broadly established contactless smart card infra-
`structure based on ISO 14443 A, as well as the Sony FeliCa™
`protocol. This allows electronic devices with integrated NFC
`technology to perform multiple functions such as acting as an
`electronic key or wallet.
`NFCcan be used as a setup tool for quickly establishing
`wireless communicatio